X-CellentAkron, Ohio's Mark Campana is justifiably proud of his '06 X-model Xterra. "I wanted the base-model automatic 4x4 since I was going to rip it all apart anyway," Mark informs. Front suspension is a combination of Radflo coilovers from PRG Products and Total Chaos upper control arms. The rear suspension was upgraded using a Deaver add-a-leaf system in conjunction with Timbren bumpstops, Bilstein 5125 shocks, and PRG Products adjustable shackles. Chassis protection comes courtesy of Shrockworks and includes front and rear bumpers, front skidplates, rock sliders, and rear diff cover. Mark isn't shy about the value of the Shrockworks hard parts: "If you have an X and take it off-road, you have to get Shrockworks, or you're screwed!" Inside the Xterra, a set of WeatherTech floor liners keep the Ohio snow and mud from wreaking havoc on the interior. Campana isn't shy about taking the X off-road and lists Wooly's Off-Road, Rausch Creek, and Big Rock Off-Road Park as favorite haunts. A trip to Harlen, Kentucky, is on the soon-to-wheel list. "I'll go there with my buddies who drive FJ Cruisers. I tell them that they're really just driving oversize baseball helmets!"

Don't Call It A CJ-5Bruce Hagan of Mission Viejo, California, came across his '53 M38A1 as a basket case in 1991. Classic basket-case symptoms included missing fenders and a cracked engine block. Not to worry: A wrecking yard supplied a running F-head Hurricane engine as well as postal Jeep fenders and a tailgate. The stock Dana 25 front axle uses a 5.38 ring-and-pinion set. The rear Dana 44 has a matching ratio and has been converted to a full-floater via products from Warn Industries. Advance Adapters supplied the necessary hardware to mount a manual Saginaw steering box. Custom Hagan-built touches include a rifle rack installed between the seats, rear spare-tire and jerrycan carrier, and an underhood oven for keeping Spam at a toasty temperature.